Pakistan backs group behind suicide bomb: Iran General

Tehran, February 16

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards accused “Pakistan’s security forces” of supporting the perpetrators of a suicide bombing that killed 27 troops on Wednesday, in the remarks aired by state TV on Saturday.

“The Pakistan’s government, which has housed these anti-revolutionaries and threats to Islam, knows where they are and they are supported by Pakistan’s security forces,” said revolutionary commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, referring to jihadist group Jaish al-Adl (“Army of Justice”).

“If the Pakistan government does not punish them, we will retaliate against this anti-revolutionary force, and whatever Pakistan sees will be the consequence of its support for them,” he warned.

The general made the remarks in Isfahan City on Friday during a farewell ceremony held for those killed. Funerals are expected to be held on Saturday.

Jaish al-Adl was formed in 2012 as a successor to the Sunni extremist group Jundallah (soldiers of God), which waged a deadly insurgency for a decade before it was severely weakened by the capture and execution of its leader Abdolmalek Rigi by Tehran in 2010.

The Wednesday bombing targeted a busload of revolutionary guards in the volatile southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, which straddled the border with Pakistan. — AFP